Half Full or Half Empty? A Writer's Secret
What do you see when you confront a blank sheet of paper or in these days, a blank screen? Does it present a threat or an opportunity? Maybe it is a “writer thing” or perhaps an appalling conceit but I see an opportunity. Here is a space I can fill with my words, in whatever form or vision I desire. It may be a verse, a letter to a friend or loved one, a short story or the first scene of a novel. It may be a political diatribe or simply some rambling thoughts but the words will be mine, and therein lies the opportunity! I think that is the number one secret of writers--it is all how you see that blank space.
Words have been a favored plaything of mine for almost as long as I can remember. I know I was well short of school age when I first realized those odd black symbols on the pages of books and magazines magically formed words. My parents had read to me from infancy. As I listened, I unconsciously absorbed the fact the words they spoke came from the books, from those lines of squiggles. It wasn’t long before I was learning what each one was and what combinations of them corresponded to which sound and familiar word. C-A-T—one of those small fuzzy creatures I wanted for my own. D-O-G, another animal that I liked. G-I-R-L. That was what I was. Then there was M-O-M and D-A-D and on and on. Probably I was starting to make words with my alphabet blocks before I could really form the letters myself. Coordination wasn’t always my strong suit.
When you stop to think of it, much of life depends on how you perceive things around you. Any challenge that comes along can be a threat or an opportunity. Why didn’t I recognize that long ago? Nothing like 20-20 hindsight, I guess.
Stand me up in front of a group of people and all those lovely words just dry up and blow away. I’m hard put to read off my notes, if I am lucky enough to have some, or remember two sentences of a planned and well-rehearsed speech. What is the difference? That moment in time is as much a blank page as an actual one, but panic sets in and my mind goes blank. I often wish I could start over and maybe develop different perceptions of many things that have always seemed threats instead of opportunities, but I guess that is not permitted. So I make do with the gifts I have.
A blank page, an opportunity. When our Blog-Maven mentioned that no one had grabbed June 17 I jumped right in. What the heck. I can always find something to say. I don’t worry much about whether anyone likes it or not, whether I look and sound like an idiot (which is frequently the case, I suspect) or even if anyone reads it! I can make up doggerel verse at the proverbial drop of the hat. It makes Dr. Seuss look like Shakespeare often as not, but that’s not the point. It is fun! I read somewhere that excessive rhyming is a frequent symptom of one form of mental illness. Oh well, if the voices tell me to do it…. Just kidding and not meaning any slur or sneer at mental illness which is not a funny matter at all. Actually I am not sure that I am quite sane, but that is another story.
At any rate, try it some time. Take a piece of paper and a pen or pencil or sit down in front of a blank screen in Word or whatever your word processing program of choice is and look at the marvelous opportunity. It is the closest to divine powers that most of us ever come. You can create a world and people it with any characters or creatures that you wish. You can kill off those you do not like in horrible and painful ways or give joy, riches, love and great rewards to those you favor. You can make something beautiful or awesome out of nothing but words. If that is not true magic, I am not sure what could be. Without a doubt that is what led me to be a writer. Maybe to be is not the right term. Maybe it simply let out the writer inside me. Maybe that was why I saw not a threat but an opportunity all along. Heck, I even enjoyed writing term papers and answering essay question when I was in school. Are writers made or born? I’m really not at all sure. What do you think?
This day’s blog is kind of impromptu but I will do a drawing. One lucky commenter will win her or his choice of a download of any of my Deirdre O’Dare stories and a nice blank-book journal which would make a fine place to start putting your words on paper! Once you start, who knows where it might lead? You could be the next poet laureate, best selling novelist or at least leave something for posterity.
Words have been a favored plaything of mine for almost as long as I can remember. I know I was well short of school age when I first realized those odd black symbols on the pages of books and magazines magically formed words. My parents had read to me from infancy. As I listened, I unconsciously absorbed the fact the words they spoke came from the books, from those lines of squiggles. It wasn’t long before I was learning what each one was and what combinations of them corresponded to which sound and familiar word. C-A-T—one of those small fuzzy creatures I wanted for my own. D-O-G, another animal that I liked. G-I-R-L. That was what I was. Then there was M-O-M and D-A-D and on and on. Probably I was starting to make words with my alphabet blocks before I could really form the letters myself. Coordination wasn’t always my strong suit.
When you stop to think of it, much of life depends on how you perceive things around you. Any challenge that comes along can be a threat or an opportunity. Why didn’t I recognize that long ago? Nothing like 20-20 hindsight, I guess.
Stand me up in front of a group of people and all those lovely words just dry up and blow away. I’m hard put to read off my notes, if I am lucky enough to have some, or remember two sentences of a planned and well-rehearsed speech. What is the difference? That moment in time is as much a blank page as an actual one, but panic sets in and my mind goes blank. I often wish I could start over and maybe develop different perceptions of many things that have always seemed threats instead of opportunities, but I guess that is not permitted. So I make do with the gifts I have.
A blank page, an opportunity. When our Blog-Maven mentioned that no one had grabbed June 17 I jumped right in. What the heck. I can always find something to say. I don’t worry much about whether anyone likes it or not, whether I look and sound like an idiot (which is frequently the case, I suspect) or even if anyone reads it! I can make up doggerel verse at the proverbial drop of the hat. It makes Dr. Seuss look like Shakespeare often as not, but that’s not the point. It is fun! I read somewhere that excessive rhyming is a frequent symptom of one form of mental illness. Oh well, if the voices tell me to do it…. Just kidding and not meaning any slur or sneer at mental illness which is not a funny matter at all. Actually I am not sure that I am quite sane, but that is another story.
At any rate, try it some time. Take a piece of paper and a pen or pencil or sit down in front of a blank screen in Word or whatever your word processing program of choice is and look at the marvelous opportunity. It is the closest to divine powers that most of us ever come. You can create a world and people it with any characters or creatures that you wish. You can kill off those you do not like in horrible and painful ways or give joy, riches, love and great rewards to those you favor. You can make something beautiful or awesome out of nothing but words. If that is not true magic, I am not sure what could be. Without a doubt that is what led me to be a writer. Maybe to be is not the right term. Maybe it simply let out the writer inside me. Maybe that was why I saw not a threat but an opportunity all along. Heck, I even enjoyed writing term papers and answering essay question when I was in school. Are writers made or born? I’m really not at all sure. What do you think?
This day’s blog is kind of impromptu but I will do a drawing. One lucky commenter will win her or his choice of a download of any of my Deirdre O’Dare stories and a nice blank-book journal which would make a fine place to start putting your words on paper! Once you start, who knows where it might lead? You could be the next poet laureate, best selling novelist or at least leave something for posterity.
posted by Gwynn-Deirdre Morgan at 7:25 AM
9 Comments:
There is no way I would make a good writer...I don't have a way with words or the imagination, lol.
I have to commend all those writers out there. Their stories gives others a chance to be in other worlds, experience other peoples feelings and lives, bring fun and fantasy into our lives.
Deidre, you do a great job writing all those wonderful stories. Keep up the great work.
I'm of the view that writers are born and I agree that perspective does make a difference to the way you do things.
Very true, a fresh perspective and an untainted "blank" can be just what we need to summon the Muse to inspire us. Thanks for this perceptive and thoughtful, "off the cuff" entry.
lol i love to read, but stringing together words would be very very hard for me ! you either got the talent to entrall us reader or not . im the not
I never thought I'd complete a book-sized string of words, although I've began writing many over the years. 2002 was the year. And now, on June 1st, that novel was released.
Thanks for sharing your strings of words. They are an inspiration.
I love the part about killing off those you don't like and blessing the characters that you do. I did try to make one character miserable but it backfired. All of my beta readers fell in love with him in sympathy!
Jena'
(NOTE: previous post site link was entered incorrectly - sorry.)
I used to write in a journal alot when I was a teen and young adult and even occassionally now. Not because I want to be a writer, but its more of a way to get let go of emotions and all during tough times. But even with a blog, you're writing when you are talking about books you read. So we are all writers in a way but some want to write stories or books. I'm thrilled to want to read them!
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